Family speaks out after service dog abducts non-verbal autistic child

Sasha Singh says the day her family got a service dog for her daughter changed her life.

“I can tell you the fact that the best therapists have fur and four legs,” she said.

Singh says Sammy, a Bernese mountain dog, has been a huge help to 14-year-old Katiana, who has autism and cannot speak.

“It gave us a normal life. We were able to do things as a family.”

But in March, Singh says the National Service Dogs (NSD) turned Katyana’s life upside down when they took Sammy away without notice after four years with her family.

A doctor’s certificate is required to own a service dog in Ontario. Waitlists can run for years and animal training can cost thousands of dollars. The family says they waited four years to get Sammy. However, NSD is an organization based in Cambridge, Ontario. The family disputes this, saying they are training animals for a child diagnosed with autism, the dog was obese and not healthy enough to continue working.

Before Sammy was taken away, the family said, he passed a public access test demonstrating that the dog could “admirably” fulfill its duties as a service animal.

However, Singh said he received a letter saying Sammy was provisionally certified after testing, and when asked why, the NSD said it was because the dog was overweight.

“We explained to them that his work life had suffered for the past two years because of COVID. We couldn’t take the kids out and he gained a little weight.” she said.

After exchanging emails, the family says the organization wanted a home visit to discuss the dog’s diet and exercise plan, but instead, he was taken away. said to have been completely caught off guard.

“I spoke with them the day before and they promised not to take the dog away and to work on a plan to get the dog back on track,” he said.

“When they got here, after two minutes of conversation, they said we’d take him.

He says the NSD left a paper with mental health resources and left two daughters with autism “crying heartily.”

The family showed CBC News a note from a Mississauga veterinarian referring to a visit they say took place just days before Sammy was taken away. was written.

“A review of my weight history found a winter weight of 49.7 kg to be acceptable and suggested a more ideal weight of 46 kg to 47 kg,” the note said.

Getting rid of dogs is a ‘last resort’, says NSD

In a statement, the NSD said Sammy was seen by multiple veterinarians.

“Other veterinarians have treated dogs for orthopedic problems related to obesity,” the statement said.

“Our thoughts are with the families and their children as they navigate this difficult transition. started the long road of orthopedic surgery, a problem exacerbated by his obesity.”

The statement also noted that in the organization’s 26-year history there have been several cases in which families were unable to properly care for service dogs and the decision was made to permanently remove the animal as a “last resort”. He said there was

Laura Kirby McIntosh, former president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, said the family’s story was “shocking” and said she had never heard of a similar case.

Kirby McIntosh said, “At first glance it seems really sad.

“Service dogs are bred and trained to face children, so the bond is incredibly close.”

Kirby McIntosh’s son, who has autism, also had a service dog for ten years.

“Since dogs are nonjudgmental creatures, there is implicit communication between dogs and children.”

Kirby-Mackintosh admits he doesn’t know all the details, but he knows the difference the service dog has made in his son’s life and he sympathizes with the family, especially the children.

“The only thing I can compare to is taking away a wheelchair from someone with a physical disability. These dogs give autistic children more freedom and independence.”

Family investigating human rights violations

The family has been unhappy with communication with the NSD since Sammy was taken away in March. Even offered to buy a dog, even if it meant that Sammy would be unable to work.

“I can’t accept that they took him away without giving him an alternative or compromise,” Portillo said.

Catiana has been recovering since March, Singh said. Her daughter now can’t leave the house without being violent and spends a lot of time rocking her body back and forth against her wall, she says.

The family is considering options that include alleging human rights violations.

“It’s not a dog to me, it’s my boy. We want him home,” Singh said.